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I removed the http:// from the click line just in case someone
accidentally clicks on the _URL_.

I read an item the other day (can't recall where now, probably somewhere on the interwebs) that suggested that the reason scammers pay so little attention making things plausible is to separate out the genuinely gullible from those who might, at a later stage, have second thoughts. So, as they only get responses from self-selected idiots, this saves them time and effort in both the short and long term.

I read that too. Basically they are saying "only reply to this if you are terminally stupid" to save wasting effort on respondents who are only very stupid/greedy and realise it is a scam further down the line.

Last edited by nelz on Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." (Albert Einstein)

I read a few years ago an account by a journalist/researcher in which he pretended to do a scam in order to find out what sort of people respond. A sham-scam if you like (the ethics of his experiment are beside the point here).

He said it was obvious from the responses that they were not from confused grannies from Tunbridge Wells, starry-eyed teenagers, or desparate debtors - the respondents were crooks themselves. It was apparent that these crooks were planning to out-smart the scammer, and maybe take over his operation.

He actually arranged to meet one in a seedy London Hotel - he had back-up not far away.The meeting was liike a game of cat-and-mouse. No money was handed over, no information revealed either way, and the meeting itself was inconclusive. However, it was clear to the journalist that he was facing a very clever con-man.

Unsolved mysteries of the Universe, No 13 :-
How many remakes of Anna Karenina does the World need?

I've been clearing out my Mail spam folder and noticed this one. I have abbreviated it a bit. [BTW, what is the point of my filtering spam when I look at them anyway ??]. He only wants $185, modest really, are they reining in their ambitions? He sounds paranoid about rival scammers.

Greeting to you, We have a meeting with the house (Federal government of Nigeria) weinformed them that your funds should not cost you any thing because isyour money (Your ATM Card). Moreover, we have an agreement with themthat you should pay only delivering of your card, which is $185 U.S.DOLLARS by FedEx Delivering Company.

However, you have only two working days to send this $185 U.S.DOLLARS for the delivering of your card, if we don't hear from youwith the payment information; the Federal Government will cancel thecard. I want you to read below notice carefully, as the notice standas caution before it is late. for your consideration, you must beconscious of this project, as I will soon conclude this transactionwith you, in-case of any e-mails, calls you receives regarding thisfrom any individuals claimed to be me, or e-mails, calls from anyorganization to you, such must be forwarded at once to me immediatelyby e-mail.

Also, it might come to you with different proposals with differentnames including my name asking you to come and claim your estate oreven funds belonging to you or to somebody you do not know, I urge youto ignore such e-mails or calls, while you forward it to me. I wantyou understand that the most important thing for me is yourunderstanding and co-operation, again without this code (11) don't getback to me.Moreover, first batch of your card which contains5,000.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS has been activated and is the totalfunds loaded inside the card. Your fund, which is in total10,000.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS, will come in batches of5,000.000.00 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS and this is the first batch..... This is the paying information that you will use and send the 185U.S. DOLLARS through western union money transfer or money gram.

Nuke wrote:He only wants $185, modest really, are they reining in their ambitions?

Not really, mostly they ask for a small sum to start with, then tell you that something unexpected has come up and they need more. A fish, once hooked, tends to stay on the hook, throwing good money after bad (if fish threw money at anglers).

If I don't get offered at least £3m per week I've had a bad week. i don't get out of bed for spam offers under £100,000!
Oh and unless my mailbox is less that 99.99% full i don't even read their email!

Wow, I've just had a freaky one that somehow passed gmail's spam filter. The title had me worried there for a second.

Title: **** You!From: Emily StarContent: You really got the guts to break up with me over email, asshole? Tell you what! I just made a nice compilation of your/our best "scenes" and put it up for download on http://goo.gl/I_removed_this_part

Oh and by the way, this email just went out to your parents and all your friends on Facebook. I bet they didn't know you're into dirty shit like this.

Hmm, given that you can install Linux on a dead badger and also given the fact that the UK government has given the go-ahead for farmers to increase the availability of this platform, perhaps we could send some to Nigeria instead of laptops.
Just a thought.